Golf club



Nov. 27, 1934.

J. B. WANTZ GOLF CLUB Filed Sept. 16, 1932 I N VEN TOR.

A TTORNE Y.

Patented Nov. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention has to do with a golf club and relates particularly to an improved type of club that is freely adjustable to best suit the stature and peculiarities of the user.

Heretofore adjustable golf clubs have been made with the end in view to provide a universal club, that is, one which could be adjusted while being used on the golf course to serve as a driver, mashie, niblick, putter, or other commonly known styles of clubs. The purpose of such a club is obviously to eliminate the necessity of carrying more than a single club for playing.

There are several objections to the so-called universal club. The majority of such clubs require that a tool be carried with the player to make the necessary changes in the shape of the club.

Small and comparatively delicate adjustable parts as are in a golf club of this character, which, when constantly loosened and tightened, become worn, to eventually render the club loose and useless. No single club has yet been devised which will with modification serve all purposes.

It is not primarily the object of this invention to provide a universal golf club, but rather, to provide a club of any one of a certain type which may be adjusted to suit the needs of a particular player.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a golf club with a handle adjustable radially of the shaft.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved golf club having a handle that is adjustable both radially and longitudinally of the shaft.

Other objects of the present include:

An improved form of golf club head adjustably disposed at an end of the shaft.

Means adapted to compensate for the shift of the center of gravity in a golf club caused by the adjustment of the parts thereof.

A golf club as the above that may be adjusted either by the manufacturer, retailer, or the user of the club.

A novel type of golf club handle having an index to facilitate uniformity in the grasping thereof.

An improved putter in which the club face, length of shaft, center of gravity, and angle of handle to club face may all be adjusted to suit the stroke and stance of a selected individual, and the club then indexed, so that the user may invention return to such adjustment after experiment in other adjustments.

A golf club adapted to be converted into a left hand club or a right hand club by a reversal of the club head.

These objects are obtained by the novel con- Figure 2 is a fragmentary view of the club shown in Figure 1, there being parts removed for purposes of illustration;

Figure 3 is a back view of the head of the golf club shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the golf club-head shown in the preceding figures and taken at an end; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the invention.

The same reference characters will be used throughout the following description and in the drawing to designate similar parts.

Reference will first be had to Figures 1 and 2 in which there is illustrated a golf club embodying the present invention. The club comprises a shaft 11 having an angularly disposed section 12. Such section may be bent to a selected angle according to whether the user stands close to or far away from the ball, such adjustment when once made remaining permanent.

Along the upper body of the shaft 11 are distributed a plurality of annular grooves or lines 15 that are traversed by a singlegroove or line 16 extending longitudinally of the shaft.

Frictionally engaging the shaft 11 is a slider member 14. A scale 13 may be used for indicating the position of the weight or slider member 14. If desired, means, such as notches in the shaft 11 and a catch complemental thereto on the slider member, for positively holding the slider member at a selected section of the shaft 11 may be provided.

A handle 17 is mounted telescopically upon the upper end of the shaft 11. An index member 20 of any suitable material such as a light metal and having a face 21 may be secured to the handle 17 in any standard manner. Near the lower end of the handle 1'7 there may be fixed a flat ring 18, or the like, to serve as a protector for the end of a wrapping material that is of different effective-lengths of the club by-merecoincides: with: a selected" part hand),

usually placed about such a handle to facilitate a firm gripping thereof. Below the ring 18 is a shoulder 19. Springlike fingers 25 and 26, which are shaped to conform to the curvature of the shaft 11, extend downwardly from the handle 17. The inner Wall of a sleeve'or chuck 29 is tapered so that it will press the fingers 25 and 26 firmly against the shaft 11 as it is forced upwardly thereto. Above the .taperedsection of the chuck 29 is a threaded section to coact with the threads on the shoulder-19 for drawing and holding the chuck in place. When the chuck 29 is engaged with the shoulder 19, the fingers 25 and 26 be pressed firmly against the shaft 11 to prevent movement of the handle either radially oraxially of the shaft.

Clamped to the lower shaft .section 12 is aclub head 35. The section 12 is round and of slightly less diameter than an enlarged portimr 36 of a channel 37 in the club head. After the club head has been turned about the section 1 2 to place the striking face 38 in the desired plane of elevation; the sides of the channel section 36 maybe brought into gripping contact with the shaft section by manipulating the screw l fl.

"I'he indexhandle, illustrated, has been develope'd primarily for the putter club; it may,

however, be used to advantage with any type of club. The importance of the angle of appr-oachtoa hole is augmented when playingon the green-. At this time great care is taken to. hold the club with, the strikingface normal to the line oftravel to be taken by the ball. Some players, in order to more accurately maintain the club face: at the correct horizontal. :angle, take a stance with the club handle opposite to one of their knees. Other'players, when putting, prefer to address the ball while standing with their feet at right anglesto the course to be taken by the ball, and. with the clubhandle held ina fruit-central position to the body. In each instance, however, the player is endeavoring to hold the club so. that. thestriking. face will be at rightangles to. the direction: to be taken by the ball.

If the handle of the clubbe turned slightly at thetlmethe ball? is struck, the putt will not be accurate and. the ball will be driven to one side of the: proper course. It is the object of the index member 20 definitely to align the club axially. with hishands, when the member 20 is. oppositeto the finger tips, thumbs, oryother desired; part of" the player's hands. The releasable gripof. the fingersr25and 26uponthe shaft 11 makes it possible, while the index face- 21 of the-hands (or for the handle. 1'7 and the shaft' toi be position that causes the the ball while adjusted to ag-ifelative face ofuthe club headto strike such face is ina position normal-to the line of travel, to be. taken bythe ball; the handleextendsthe full 'lengththereof so that The groove in theuser, may gripthe handle at any selected section thereof; after-the adjustment thereof to the shaft. Thus apuser may obtain the effect ly selecting different positions for-his hands. The :effective; length i of the shaft will usually bezchanged, providing such a change is necessaw before the-radialadjustment ofthe handle,

asejust described,. is made. It is to control this condition-thatthe weight 14' is provided; For example, if the handle of the club be moved upwardly-ta make the swinging moment of greater l ength, the effective weight of I the club will be shifted. Such change in the effective weight may be compensated for by changing the center of gravity of the club. This is done by moving the weight 14 along the shaft until the desired balance is obtained. It is the logical sequel that when the club 17 is lengthened that the weight 14 will be moved on the shaft to maintain the balance of the club. Shortening the effective length of the shaft causes a .change in the apparent weight of the club.

Before leaving the manufacturer, the grooves 15 and, the scale 13 may be calibrated so that the club may be readily balanced when the effective length of the shaft is changed. To accomplish this, the grooves 15 may be numbered and, similar numbers may be placed alongside the. divisions of the scale 13 at which the weight 14 is to be when the handle is at such grooves.

.Indices 41 and 42 may be placed on the club head and on the lower end of the shaft whereby the angular position of the face 38 of the club head may be determined.

.It is important even in the case of the putter that the striking face of the club head have the proper elevation. 'A backwardly inclined face on the putter will not give the ball so great an initial roll as will a more forwardly inclined face. On slow greens, an advantage may be gained if a slight lift can be imparted to the ball.

A change of the angular position of the club head about the shaft section 12. alters the relative position of the index face 21 and said club head. The direction and amount of this radial adjustment of the club head may be indicated by said indices 41 and 42 having. the elements upon the club head and an adjacent section of the lower part of the shaft.

A mark or indentation 28 may be made in the lower end of the handle opposite to the reference line 16. Should the radial position of the club he changedv for any reason, the original position can easily be regained by replacing-the mark 28 in registry with the line .16. Notation will also. be made of the position of the other:-

adjustable parts of the club so that if it ever be adjusted for another player, or to suit a caduceus style of'the owner, it'may'be quickly and accurately reset to the original adjustment.

Usually a definite order will be followed in making the adjustments to the club. Reviewed briefly, and in the order in. which- .they are to be made, the adjustments provide for: changing the effective length of the shaft by adjusting the handle longitudinally of' the shaft inaccordance with the stature of the player; movingthe-slider member 14. alongthe shaft to alterithe" effective weight of the club; and adjusting the handle radially to the position best suited to the, style of'swing of the player; and adjusting the club: ,head radially of the shaft section 12 to obtain be reversed upon the same steps will be followed as'are prescribed.

above.

After the club has been adjusted to the stature and style of the player, it is intended that the club remain so adjusted until the players whims may-change his style. It may, however,

be desired to change the adjustments so that.

the several indices may be employed to insure return of the parts to a previously employed position.

An effective use for the shiftable weight is found in making a long putt. By moving the weight downwardly on the shaft a blow of greater impact is obtained Without changing the arist movement of the player.

Although this description has been directed particularly to the putter and to a particular type of construction, it is conceivable that no departure would be taken from the present invention by incorporating it into the structure of other styles of clubs, or by changing the mechanics of the fastening or looking devices. Furthermore, it is intended that no limitations of the scope of the invention are to be taken, except as set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States 1s:

1. A putter having a shaft comprising two sections, one of which is a straight section to be topped by a handle and the other an angular extension to receive a head, a handle disposed upon said straight section and adjustable circumferentially thereof, a head on said extension, said handle having an elongated gripping groove extending longitudinally of said handle and parallel to the axis of said straight section, the normal position of said handle being with the median line of said gripping groove upon said handle in alinement with the tip of the a left toe of the user when the putt is taken off the left toe, and means for locating and indexing said gripping groove in positions displaced from such normal position to correctly position the hands of the user to permit of the ball being correctly addressed in positions other than off the left toe, said head being movable about said extension to tilt the face thereof relative to the axis of said handle whereby to compensate for adjustments of said handle about said shaft.

2. A putter having a shaft comprising two sections, one of which is a straight section to be topped by a handle and the other an angular extension to receive a head, a handle disposed upon said straight section and adjustable circumferentially thereof, a head on said extension, said handle having an indexing means extending longitudinally of said handle and parallel to the axis of said straight section, the-normal position of said handle being with the indexing means in alinement with the left toe, and means for locating said indexing means in positions displaced from such normal position for properly positioning the hands of the user to permit of the ball being correctly addressed in positions other than off the left toe, said head being movable about said extension to tilt the face thereof relative to the axis of said handle whereby to compensate for adjustments of said handle about said shaft.

JULIUS B. WANTZ. 

